Though we might not like to acknowledge it, helicopter autopilot's stellar capabilities are clearly seen in the many UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) helicopters that most helicopter manufacturers are now flying and demonstrating, primarily for military uses. It still took a while before I reluctantly acknowledged that it actually flew better than I possibly could. Within a few minutes I came to recognize that the autopilot was doing just fine without my "touch", and I rested my hand on my leg. Upon engaging the autopilot, I made a large "C" around the cyclic with my fingers, ready to grab it at any second. Most helicopter pilots still can hear a stern instructor's voice searing into their subconscious "DON'T EVER TAKE YOUR HAND OFF THE CYCLIC!" When I first flew a helicopter with an autopilot, I was the same way. A primer on helicopter autopilots, with a flight report on SFIM's two-axis VFR system.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |